Cross River State Commissioner of Police (CP), Rashid Afegbua.
By Anietie Akpan
A young man who broke into the home of a couple at Federal Housing Estate, Calabar as they were away for the burial of their 19 year old daughter is now in the police net.
The couples, Arch.. Gerbriel Iso and Mrs. Arit Iso had on December 30, lost their daughter to Meningitis and were out for the burial in Ikot Ansa when they unnamed young man broke into their home at Immaculate Conception School Road, Ikot Ansa, vandalized the premises and attempted to steal the electrical cables and other valuables.
It was a case of double tragedy for the couples but according to an eyewitness account, “We came back from burial to meet armed rubbers inside.
“The father of the deceased opened the door and met him in the house and was attacked but he was fast to jump out and raised an alarm which attracted people in the neighbourhood”.
The suspect according to the eyewitness accounts, “had dangerous items in his possession like hammer, charms, sharp objects and threatened to harm Arch. Iso but he was overpowered “.
The eyewitness account said, “the armed robber was arrested and taken to the Federal Housing Estate Police station and the report we are getting is that one influential person in the community does not want the story to escalate”.
Another person in the neighbourhood said one man, had earlier dropped the suspect in the house where he broke in and cut off all the electrical connections in the house”.
Commenting on the incident, Mrs. Iso expressed shock over the incident saying, “we went to burry our 19 year old daughter who died of meningitis at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital on December 30 only to come back home and see that a strange armed person was inside the house”.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP. Eitokpah Sunday confirmed the incident to Pillar Today saying, “the police is very much aware of what has happened.
“It was not a case of burglary and robbery but a case of malicious damage” and the person was trying to damage all the cables in the compound when he was caught.
“The person is currently in our facility at the Federal Housing Police Station and we have commenced investigation and he will be charged to court if found culpable”, he said.
